Washing machine



c. w. THOMAS 1,724,234

WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug.1o, 1925 3 sneets-sheet 1 Aug. 13, 1929.

JNvf/vroR )RMA @i @417594115 1F lli IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IlllIIIIIIlllllllllllllllllllllll @Tran/Vey Aug. 13, 1929. c. w. THOMASWASHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 10, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Will/Iliff,

Aug. 13, 1929. c. w. THOMAS WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug. l0, 1925 5Sheets-Sheet al Illlllllllllllllllllll Umm Ill Paine-i Aeg. i is, 1929.i

UNi'riio STATES CHARLES W. THOMAS, GF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

WASHING imciiiimf Application :filed August 10, 1925. Serial No.49,435.`

This invention relates to a machine for washing fabric, garments andother wearing apparel. For convenience I will -refer to such articles asclothes.

@ne object of the invention is to construct a clothes washing machinewherein the several operations of washing and rinsing and also dryingmay be effected upon one or more batches of clothes without olischarguing or diluting the washing solution o suds. v

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved washingmachine having a collecting trough around the interior side wall of thetank, (or tub) whereby rinsing `water may be discharged into or upon thebatch of clothes and discharged centrifugally against the side walls ofthe tank (or tub) and collected in the trough without mixing with thewashing solution or necessitating the discharge or waste of the latter.

J{lnother object of the invention is to provide an improved clotheswashing machine which is relatively simple and capable of effectingi'epeatcd washingsin a ready and quick manner without waste, dischargeor removal of the washing solution from the holding tank.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a clothes washingmachine having an inner vertically movable drum or tray, an auxiliarybottom that may be positioned to divide the tank into a lower and anupper compartment and a discharge pipe connected with the tank above theauxiliary bottom when it is in operative position, whereby the batch ofclothes in the drum may be elevated out of the washing solution or sudsand rinsed, the rinsing water discharged, the clothes dried and a newbatch of clothes placed in the drum and the several washing operationscarried out without discharging or removing the washing solution or sudsfrom the tank.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatuscapable of washing, rinsing and drying clothes and pieces of fabricwithout any handling thereof.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilledy in theart to which my invention relates from the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein hig. 1 is avertical section of a washing machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view showing a modification of the constructionembodying my invention.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing a further modificationof theconstruction embodying my invention.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a construction embodying a furthermodification of the invention. y

ln the drawings, l indicates as an entirety a tank for receiving thewashing solution or suds and a batch of clothes. 'lhe tank 1 issupported on a horizontal frame 1a, which is secured to a plurality ofuprights 1, preferably mounted on castors 1. rll`he tank 1 comprises abottom 2, a side wall 3 (which is of special construction, as will laterbe set forth) and a centrally arranged sleeve 4, serving as a. guide fora rotatable and slidable shaft 5. 'lhe bottom 2 of the tank is formedwith an opening 2a, in registry with the sleeve 4, so that the shaft 5may extend upwardly as shown. 6 indicates a drum or tray having a bottom6EL and a side wall 6b, the latter and preferably a portion of theformer being formed with perforations 7. The bottom 6a is formed with anopening 6c to receive the shaft 5 and sleeve 4. 8 indi- Cates a tubularmember connected to the bottom 6a concentrically to the opening 6c andextending upwardly therefrom. The upper end of the member 8 is formedwith a hub 9 having an opening 9a (preferably of square shape) intowhich removably tits the free end of the shaft 5 (which end is shaped tofit the opening 9a), thereby eecting a driving connection between theshaft and the drum to rotate the latter for the purposes to be later setforth.

rlhe shaft 5 may be driven by the following instrumentalities: 10indicates a motor preferably of the electric type. The shaft of themotor carries a pulley 11 for a belt 12 which runs around and drives apulley 13. The pulley 13 is suitably mounted on a. frame member (notshown). The inner face of the pulley 13 serves as a friction disk andengages the periphery of a friction gear 14 to drive the latter, thepulley 13 and disk 14 being correlated so that suitable speed reductionis obtained. The disk 14 may comprise a pair of plates 14a, 14",supporting between them a layer of material 14c (laminas of leather) theedge of which extends beyond '31 is connected by the plates 14, 14", forengagement with the face of the pulley 13. The plate 14a is providedwith a hub`15 to which is connected a pinion 16, the urpose of whichwill later appear. The p ate 14h is provided with a plurality ofdepending arms 17 to which is integrally connected a hollow boss 18having a key 19 which fits a spline 20 extending longitudinally of theshaft 5.

21 indicates as an entirety an agitating mechanism of a well known typecomprising a pair of inverted cups 22 (only one being shown), carried atthe ends of a yoke 23, which is mounted to rock on an arm 24, so that byreciprocating the arm 24 vertically, the cups 22 will engage the clothesin the drum 6 and suck them up and also propel them in .a rotativedirection to effect the washing operation in the washing solution orsuds. The arm 24 is removably attached to a rod 25, preferably by aclamping screw 25a. The rod 25 is reciprocated endwise in suitableguides by the following mechanism: -26 indicates a bell-crank fulcrumedon a cross rod 27 supported by the frame. One arm 26a of the bell-crankis pivoted to the lower end of the rod 25, the latter being formed witha slot 28 for the pivot pin to permit swinging movement of the arm 26a;the other arm 26b of the bell-crank is provided with a knuckle 29pivoted between the. spaced knuckles 30 of a link 31 to provide auniversal joint. The opposite end of the link a universal jointconnection 32 (preferably a ball and socket joint) With a crank 33carried by a shaft 34. rIhe shaft 34 is supported in a bearing 35and hasfixed to it a gear 36 in mesh -with the pinion 16 whereby it is driven.

The drum 6 is supported by the shaft 5, so that by moving it upwardlythrough the sleeve 4, the drum 6 and the clothes contained therein maybe moved above the level of the washing solution or suds in the tank 1whereby the clothes lmay be rinsed and dried. The drumpraising devicespreferably comprise an arm 37 on which the lower end of the shaft restsand rotates. .The inner 'end of the arm 37 is pivoted at some suitable`point on the frame; its outer end is engaged by a roller 38 carried onthe end of a lever 39 preferably fulcrumed on the cross rod 27. Thelever 39 is provided with an arm 40 shaped to form a pedal, which, whenengaged and forced downwardly, will swing the lever 39 and arm 37 toelevate the shaft 5 and drum 6; release of the pressure on the pedal 40will permit lowering of the shaft 5 and drum 6 under the iniuence ofgravity. To maintain it in the elevated position, a suitable lock andrelease device or trigger (not'shown) is provided.

41 indicates a hollow boss secured to the bottom of the tank 1 and`supporting a sleeve 42 which co-operates with the -sleeve 4 to guidethe shaft 5 and serve as a bearing therefor and to form a bearing forthe disk 14, hub 15 and pinion 16, the lower end of the sleeve 42 beingprovided with a collar 43 to engage the lower face of the plate 14" andhold these parts in position.

44 indicates a drain pipeleading from the bottom of the tank 1 andcontrolledby a valve 45.

46 indicates a cover for the tank 1. f'

The parts so far described (except as to certain changes thereinrequired to embody my invention and attain the new and useful resultsabove set forth) are of known construction.

In carrying out my invention, I provide an annular collecting trouglf 47on the inner wall of the tank 1- at a point slightly above the levelattained at any time by the washing solution or suds and provide thetrough with a discharge pipe 48. The discharge pipe is controlled by asuitable valve, preferably the valve 45. For this purpose, the pipes 44and 48 are connected to the valve casing and the valve 45 is a threewayvalve, so that discharge may be effected from the tank 1 or the trough47 or from the trough 47 into the tank 1. `The trough 47 is preferablyprovided by enlarging the upper portion l of the tank 1 and connectingthe lower edge thereof to the outer rim of the trough and connecting theouter edge of the lower portion of the tank 1 to the inner rim of thetrough. In the preferred form of construction, the wall 1 constitutingthe upper portion of the tank extends vertically, but it may be inclinedin- -wardly, or the trough may be otherwise formed.

The operation of the washing machine may now be described: With theparts positioned as shown in the drawing, (1) a batch of. articlesto bewashed is placed in the drum 6 and the tank 1 filled with water and thecleaning material (soap, powder or other substance) to form a washingsolu tion or suds, (2) the agitating mechanism 21 is positioned' and (3)the motor started; when thel washing operation is com aletcd, the drumor tray 6, with the clothes t erein is elevated to the position shown indotte lines, the driving connection made with the drum to rotate it andthe valve 45 is rotated to connect the pipe 48 with the pipe 44. Asl thedrum rotates the surplus portion of the washing solution or sudscontained in the articles will be thrown out by centrifugal forceagainst the wall 1 of the tank 1 from which it will flow (adheringthereto by capillary attraction) into the trough 47 and drain backthrough the pipes 48, 44, to the lower portion of the tank 1. When asubstantial portion of the washing solution or suds has been removedfrom the articles, the valve 45 is operated to close the i e 44 and o enthe'pipe 48; then rinsing svelter or otheIi fluid is sprayed onto'- thebatch of clothes, while continuing the rotation of the drum 6, whichrotation "auses the water to pass through the articl s by centrifugalforce and outwardly against the wall 1 the eifect of this operationbeing to rinse the clothes orv articles of all or substantially all ofthe washing solution or suds as well to rinse or wash out all orsubstantially all of the residue resulting there from. The rinsing wateror luid flows down the wall 1 adhering thereto by capil- .laryattraction and collects in the trough 47,

from which it drains through the pipe 48 to some suitable dischargepoint.

The rinsing water or fluid may be supplied by a nozzle or spray device49 connected to a flexible pipe 50 (shown in dotted lines) which isprojected through an opening 46 formed in the top 46. The opening 46 maybe closed by a pivoted plate 46. Following the rinsing operation andcut-oil:l of the rinsing water, the rotation of the drum 6 iscontinuedto effect va drying of the clothes.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the rinsin Water orfluid is supplied to the batch o clothes and discharged therefrom anddrained from the tank l without mixing with and diluting the washingsolution or suds in the lower portion thereof. Accordingly, successivebatches of material may be washed and rinsed (and also dried) in thetank l without waste of the washing solution or suds or even the removalthereof from the tank l. Further more, these operations are ed'ectedwithout removal of the clothes from the drum 6. y

At the end of the rinsing or drying operation, as the case may be, andremoval of the washed batch, the drum is lowered and filled with a newbatch of articles to loe washed.

lf it is .desired to close the lower portion of the tank l and to sealit after `the drum 6 and batch of clothes therein are elevated to therinsing position, l provide the following elements: 5l indicates ailange disposed at the upper edge of the wall forming the lower portionof the tank. The flangel extends inwardly but not far enough to affeetthe raising and lowering of the drum 6. The flange 51 is shapedtransversely to form an annular groove 52 on its lower face for apurpose which will presently appear. 53 indicates a plate interposedbetween the bottom 6a of the drum and bottom 2 of the tank l. -The plate53 is formed with a central opening 53L and surrounding this opening isa sleeve 54 which lits between the sleeves 4 and 8, the constructionbeingsuch that the sleeve 8 freely slides and rotates relative to thesleeve 54 and the latter may freely slide and rotate relative to thesleeve 4, altho the embodiment of my invention does not require thesleeve 54 to rotate, this being merely -an incident to the preferredform .of construction. At its upper end, the sleeve 54 carries aninturned flange 55 which lies over the edge of a collar 56 fixed to theshaft 5. Accordingly, when the shaft 5 is elevated, it moves with it thesleeve 54 and plate 53, and causes the circumferential edge of the plateto engage the flange 5l and thus form a supplemental or auxiliary bottomfor the upper portion of the tank and a supplemental top for the lowerportion, as a result a rinsing chamber separate from the Washing andsuds containing chamber is provided. The outer annular portion of theplate 53 is shaped to form in its upper surface an annular groove 57 toreceive a gasket 58 which lits into the groove 52 and thus forms asealed, non-leak joint. The gasket may be formed of resilient material.The auxiliary bottom 53 may be shaped to insure drainage of the liquidinto the trough 47.

The operation of the machine having the supplemental bottom 53 issimilar to that already described. As above set forth, the bottom 53being connected to and moved by the shaft 5, no separate or diiierentoperation is required, its function being to close the lower portion ofthe tank and thus prevent any portion of the rinsing water from flowinginto the washing solution or yends. Due to the fact that in someinstances the rinsing water cannot be supplied properly or may besupplied in a larger quantity than can be discharged outwardly or beyondthe capacity of the trough 47 or pipe 43 to carry it olf, then obviouslythe rinsing water would drop or overiiow into the lower portion of thetank; likewise, if the drum was not rotating fast enough or some oneshould place their hands on the drum and slow it down on stop, ifrinsing water was in or being supplied to the drum, it would dropdownwardly and dilute the washing solution. By providingthe bottom 53,ll overcome all of these difliculties.

This construction also permits the drum to be elevated above the washingsolution and the clothes subjected to a soaking operation, for exam ilein bluing water, before being rinsed. further advantage in thisconstruction consists in utilizing the agitating mechanism to engage andagitato the clothes when the drum is in an elevated position.Accordingly, two separate washings in separate solutions can beeffected, as well as rinsing and drying of the clothes without theirremoval or handling.

. Fig. 2 shows a construction of machine in whichvthe collecting andreceiving trough for the rinse water is constructed to give it largercapacity by making the trough deeper. In this form of construction thetrough 4'?a is provided by constructing the tank from two concentricallyarranged anlill) lll] llil

ing into the trough 47. The

above the upper'edge of the inner wall, the space between the wallsservin as the o enottom o the trough may be arranged at any level belowthe trough opening, but it is preferably disposed at the lower end ofthe inner wall 1*. This Iform of construction may be produced by usingtwo tanks having different diameters and placing the smaller tank withinthe other as shown in Fig. 2. In this arrangement (1) the bottom of theouter tank will serve as the bottom of the trough 47a.

Arnd (2) the upper edge of the inner tank may be rolled over in aninward direction to form the flange 51a. In this form of construction itwill be seen that the rinse water, when thrown centrifugally, willengage the side wall lb of the outer tank, and flow downwardly betweenthe tanks and be dis` charged through the pipe 48a. In this form ofconstruction, th`e` discharge pipe 44 i extends through an opening inthe bottom of the outer tank.

In Fig. 3 I have shown another embodiment of my invention. In this formof construction 59 indicates the tank, which is preferably similar tothe tank l shown in Fig. 1. 60 indicates a shaft extending J through anopening inthe bottom of the 'tank and the centrally arranged sleeve 59a.

The shaft is driven by a mechanism similar to that shown in Fig. l. 6lindicates a. drum or tray for the articles to be washed and providedwith a centrally arranged sleeve 62 carrying at its upper end a hub 63adapted to be'removably connected to the upper end of the shaft60. Thebottom 64 or side wall of the drum or trayis provided withla flange 65adapted to engage the flange 5l when the drum or tray 61 is elevated forthe rinsing operation as shown in dotted lines. The bottom 64 of thedrummay coniprise two walls connected to each other and the side wall ofthe rdrum in any desired manner. In this form .of construction the upperwall will be spaced above the lower wall and preferably inclinedupwardly so as to guide the water above the trough 47 when the drum iselevated and rotated. It will be noted that in `this form ofconstruction I do'A away with the auxiliary bottom shown at 53 in Fig. 1and its supporting. sleeve 54, by

providing the sealing flange 65 on the drum itself. In this form-ofconstruction, a slight change' inthe operation of the machine isprovided for since theflange. 65, when the .drum is elevated,.engagesthe flange 51 and holds the drum against rotation, so that a soaking ofthe clothes for example in bluing water, after being washed, may beeffected.' Following the washing operation, the druni or tray 61 may beelevated to move the' flangeV 65 into engagement with the flange 51',there- 1 v 1w closing tho lower Vportion of the tank,

but by preference it is moved to the position to discharge the soakingsolution tated by the driving mechanism for the purpose of dischargingthe surplus suds and washing solution centrifugally against the wall l',whereby it flows into the trough 47 and through the pipe 48 back intothe lower portion of the tank. If it is desired to soak the clothes, thedrum or tray 6l is elevated to its extreme upper position therebyeli'ecting an engagement 0I the flange 65 with the flange 5l and thevalve 45 closed. '.lhe soak- 111g solution is then placed in the upperportion of the tank to. the desired level and the clothes soaked as longas desired. l`l1en the valve 45 is opened and the soaking solutiondrained oft' then the drum is lowered slightly. to its first elevatedposition and rotated contained in the clothes; then the rinse water issupplied by the nozzle 49 while the rotation of the drum is continued.When the rinsing is complete, the supply of rinsing water is shut oli'but the drum is further rotated to efl'ect crying of the clothes.

A further modified form of construction is shown in Fig. 4, the objectbeing to provide for the soaking of the clothes 1n a liquid, such asrinsing water or bluing water, when desired without the provision of asealing means between the drum or tray as shown in Figs. l, 2 and3. InFig. 4 I eliminate the auxiliary bottom shown in Figs. l and 2 or theflanges 65 and 5l shown 1n Fig. 3. In place of these elements, Ivprovide an axinular outwardly inclined wall (36 around the side wall ofthe drum or tray and connect it to the lower edge of the latter wail.Accordingly the wall 66 co-operates with the bottom of the drum or trayto form a container for holding the soaking orH rinsing liquid; butsince the wall 66 is inclined upwardly and outwardly, the liquid in thedrum or tray and held by the wall 66 or the liquid that is sprayedtherein, will, upon the rotation of the drum or tray, caused to flow upand over the edge of the Wall 66 and then outwardly against the sidewallof the tank; whereupon it will flow into the trough and escape asalready described.

-The wall,66 may be connected to the side -tlie rinsing of the clothesand drying thereof as already set forth.

If desired, the bottom of the drum or tray, Awhen constructed as shownin Fig. 4, may be provided with means for draining it, such as a pluggedopening.

be thrown outwardly and till As will be understood in the forms ofconstruction shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 the agitating cups may beadjusted along the ro'd 25 so that they can agitate the clotheswhen thedrum is in its elevated position. The cups 22 are raised and lowered bythe reciprocating rod 25, and the cups are raised by adjustment of theclamp 35a on the rod so that the cups may operate in the drum when thelatter is in either a raised or a lowered position. The adjustment ofthe drum does not ad'eet theoperation of the agitator.'

From the foregoing description it will be seen that less labor isrequired to operate the machine and carry out my process of washing andsuccessive batches ot articles may be washed, rinsed and dried in themachine without the removal of either batch or the removal ot thewashing solution or suds during the washing oli all the batches.Furthermore, l have found that in rinsing the clothes in this manner, avery large portion et the residue resulting from the soap or otheringredients used is removed from the articles so that they are devoidoli this objection.

Atls the general construction of washing machine illustrated is wellknown, l have not attempted to show all the details thereof; forexample, the means for roeking the cup supporting yoke 23 and the meansfor engagin and disengaging the pulley 13 with the disk 14, so that therod 25 may be operated without rotating the drum 6; but only so much ofthe machine as will enable one skilled in this art to understand myinvention and its application and mode of operation.

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates, many changesin construction and widely didering embodiments and applications ot. myinvention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit andscope thereol. My disclosures and the description herein are purelyillustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

Wihat ll claim is:

l'. lnqapparatus oil the class described, the combination ot a tank forholding a washing solution, a drum for a batch et clothes, means forraising the drum to a position above the level of the washing solutionin the tank, means 'for rotating said drum while in its elevatedposition, means for collecting and conveying awayV liquid' Signature.

thrown centrifugally from said drum during its rotation, and meanscarried by the tank and drum for closing the tank above the. level ofthe washing solution therein.

2. In washing machine, a tank for a solution, a perforated drum forarticles, means for raising and lowering the drum into and out of saidtank to submerge the articles in the solution and to elevate thearticles thereabove, means for rotating the drum when in its elevatedposition, collectingr means above the tank for collecting liquiddischarge centrifugally by the rotative action of said drum, and aclosure disposed beneath and movable with the drum for closing the topof the tank when the drum is elevated.

3. ln a washing machine, a tank for a solution, a perforated drum forarticles,

`means for raising and lowering the drum into and out oi' the tank,means for rotating the drum when elevated, collecting means above thedrum tor carrying oil' liquid discharge centrifugally by the rotativeaction of said drum, said tank having an inturned flange at its upperend, a partition plate carried beneath said drum and movable therewithinto engagement with said flange to seal the tank when the drum iselevated.

4. ln an apparatus of the class described, a tank for holding a washingsolution, a drum for a batch of clothes, means for raising the drum to aposition above the level of the washing solution in the tank, means forrotating said drum when in its elevated position, means for collectingand conveying away liquid thrown centrifugally Jfrom said drum duringits rotation, and means operable upon the raising of the drum for closing off the tank above the level of the washing solution and below thedrum.

5. lin a washing machine, a tank for a solution, a perforated drum,means for raising and lowering the drum into and out ot the tank, meanstor rotating the drum when elevated, and means operable when the drum iselevated out of the tank for closing the top et the tank beneath thedrum.

6. An apparatus asclaimed in claim et in which an adjustableat'gitatingV mechanism is provided to agitate the clothes in the drum ineither raised or lowered position of the drum..

Iii-testimony whereof, I have aiiixed my CllARllfES W. 'IFI-Kliniek@n

